Recently I found myself on the TanglePatterns page containing all the personal accounts readers have shared describing in their own words how Zentangle® has changed their lives. It is powerful and inspiring reading.

The creative satisfaction (exhilaration?) we experience is an obvious benefit of the Zentangle Method, but the unexpected emotional, psychological and even physical benefits are often not honored as much as they could be and that’s what this occasional series aims to spotlight.

When I began the series three years ago, I wrote,

“One of my greatest, and most unexpected, rewards in running TanglePatterns.com is receiving comments and emails from fellow tanglers thanking me for the site and describing how Zentangle® has changed their lives. It is a wonderful feeling to know you’ve made a difference in a person’s life. Of course the real difference is what the gift of Zentangle has given, but I’m honored to help in my way through TanglePatterns.

For some time I’ve been sharing some of these stories (not private details) with friends and family, and it seems to me that these should be shared more widely. Many of you are new to this art form and I’m not sure you are aware of how Zentangle has helped so many people in dealing with some really tough challenges in their lives.“

Here are some of the challenges shared in inspiring testimonials of how Zentangle has made a difference in someone’s life:

Relief from chronic hand pain, and depression and anxiety

Healing after a traumatic brain injury

Dealing with loss and grief

Overcoming artist block

Overcoming fear of failure

Dealing with loneliness and loss

Respite and relief for caregivers

Overcoming panic attacks

Relieving mental exhaustion and increasing productivity

Providing relief from medical withdrawal and Parkinson’s Disease

Healing a broken heart

Improving hand control from effects of Parkinson’s Disease

Improving hand control after mini-strokes

Accomplishment after loss of vision in one eye

Handling ADHD and anger management issues

Handling the challenges of “loss, age-related physical conditions and the sometime resulting depression”

Finding confidence and having fun drawing

Helping cope with devastating loss

Helping express feelings without words

Changed life of manic depressive, bipolar tangler, renewing her outlook on life and reviving her creative interests

Disabled, bedridden tangler finds life is richer and depression is dealt a blow through Zentangle

New tangler discovers unexpected benefits beyond the Zentangle art form

You can read the full account of all these stories in each person’s own words by visiting the STORIES tab in the pink alphabetic tangle menu bar as shown below at the green arrow.

If you would like to share your own experience for this series, please email me (linda [at] tanglepatterns [dot] com). You can make your story as long as or short as you like and, if you wish, your personal details will remain anonymous.

I’d love to share yourinspiring story …

* * *

The Tangle Refresher series, aka Buried Treasure, spotlights hidden tangle gems from the past. It can remind you of tangles you might not have used for a while or introduce you to some you haven’t come across yet.

Here are five more tangle pattern gems and a Tangle Refresher from a year (or two) ago for your tangling pleasure. Remember to check out the “More Good Stuff” links below too.

BTW as you visit these tangles please do leave a comment of thanks and encouragement to show the artists you appreciate them for sharing their creativity to inspire yours. And please share a link to your favorite tangles with your followers on all your social media. Thanks!

Enhance your Zentangle experience ...

NEW! TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, 2019 Edition

The newest and 8th Edition of my TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE. This instant-download 72-page (40 MB) interactive digital eBook contains all the tangles on the site from May 2010 through December 31, 2018. Containing over 1,000 tangles, it's a must-have tool for using the site.

"Linda, Thank you! I was relying on too few and getting stuck after 3 years of daily working with Zentangle. This has inspired me to ‘begin again’ with renewed excitement." ~ Barbara R.

See the BOOK REVIEWS page for more details on its features and view a sample page.

Visit the STORE > E-BOOKS page for more information and support TanglePatterns.com by getting your copy now!

NOW AVAILABLE IN SOFTCOVER: This is the only Zentangle book you'll ever need: the fabulous Zentangle PRIMER Vol 1. It's your CZT-in-a-book by the founders of Zentangle®! Visit the STORE tab on the top menu bar or click on the image. For more about the content and to read the rave reviews, visit the BOOK REVIEWS tab.

"Absolutely the best Zentangle Book yet! As an accomplished artist I used to think I did not need instruction on this art form. How wrong I was! My tangling improved by leaps and bounds after reading this book. If you think you have Zentangle down then you need this book more than ever!" ~ Kris H

Another great jump-starter for new tanglers is the original Official Zentangle Kit. The Kit includes all the supplies you'll need to get started properly: Sakura Micron Pens, Zentangle Tiles, pencil, sharpener, tortillion, a booklet and an instructional DVD by co-founder Maria Thomas. Click on the image for more information about the Kit and its contents.

TanglePatterns depends on support from its users to remain online. If you find value in this unique Zentangle® resource, please help make sure it continues to be available.
Your support really matters and you have my deepest gratitude for your help. xo